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Quirky Attractions Found Only in the Kootenays

Only in the Kootenays will you find some of
the most unique, historic, cultural and quirky attractions found in the world! These fascinating gems hold the key to our memorable
past and the character of our remarkable communities. Come discover some of our unusual interests
found in the ‘Kootenays’.

The hot springs originate around the Cody
Caves above and to the east of Ainsworth
Hot Springs. The water works its way down through fractures in the rock,
increasing in temperature at a rate of 40C per km until it his a lakeshore
fault – a rock layer on a 45-degree angle.This hot springs feature a unique horseshoe cave with falling mineral
waters that form into a pool, providing a natural steam bath.

The two 'grain elevators' alongside Highway 3 in Creston are a very few in Canada that are still standing and have survived! The grain elevators were built in 1935 and 1936, with the red one being the first. They were built to accommodate the wheat and grain crops expected from the Creston flats once they were reclaimed, a project also took place in 1935. Farmers sold their grain to the elevator, which then distributed it to markets in other parts of the country and to destinations around the world.

Celebrating over 45 years, the Doukhobor Discover Centre in Castlegar
is a rare heritage attraction nestled at the confluence of the Kootenay and
Columbia rivers. This museum, on traditional Doukhobor orchard land, will introduce
you to the unique skills, beliefs, culture and lifestyle of the Doukhobors as
lived circa 1908-1939. This complete
communal village offers videos, thousands of artifacts, communal house with
petch (over), the banya (sauna), linen textiles and other crafts.

This unusual roadside attraction was built
from over half a million discarded embalming fluid bottles. In 1952, David H.
Brown retired from 35 years in the funeral business. It occurred to Brown that
there should be some practical use to put the bottles to. The Glass House, in Sanca, is built in a
cloverleaf patter with three main rooms, circular shape, 48 feet in length, 24
feet wide and with the upstairs room, it contains 1,200 sq. ft. of floor space.
Over 320 doze flowers border pathways and entice visitors from the terrace over
a bridge also built of glass bottles. A winding path beneath the bridge leads
to a rocky lakeshore and a lookout called the ‘lighthouse’ offers spectacular
views of Kootenay Lake.

The Glass House along the East Shore of Kootenay Lake, photo by Don Weixl

The small settlement of Craigellachie is a historic site, famous for the point where the
last spike on Canada’s first trans-continental railway was driven joining the
western part of the Canadian Pacific Railway, built from the Pacific, to the
segment built from the east. Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, a director of the
CPR drove the last spike on November 7, 1885. The town is named for a prominent
crag in Morayshire, Scotland. A plaque and display commemorates the driving of
the last spike to complete Canada’s transcontinental railroad located on the
south side of the TransCanada Highway (west of Revelstoke).

During World War II, over 20,000 Japanese
Canadians were forcibly relocated from the coast to remove internment camps.
The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre
is located on the side of one of ten such camps in the Slocan Valley (near New
Denver) and is dedicated to the preservation of the physical history and
personal memories of Japanese Canadian internees. It is the only interpretive
site of its kind in Canada and contains original internment shacks and a large
hand carved Buddhist shrine that was built by a temple carpenter during the
war. A beautiful commemorative garden has been created by master gardener and
former internee Mr. Roy Sumi.

Castlegar’s Sculpturewalkfeatures sculptures by local and international
talented artists, located on a pleasant walking tour. Visitors can vote for their
favourite piece via ballot, the winner of the People’s Choice Award is
purchased by the city for their permanent collection.

Step back in time aboard the oldest
sternwheeler in the world! The SS Moyie,
in Kaslo, is the oldest surviving intact vessel of her type in the world.
Berthed at the edge of Kootenay Lake, the sternwheeler rests permanently in her
former port of call. Owned and operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the SS
Moyie plied the waters of Kootenay Lake for nearly 60 years.Launched in 1898 to provide connecting
service to Nelson from CPR’s Crowsnest pass line from the east, the Moyie
remained a fixture on Kootenay Lake until 1957.

SS Moyie on Kootenay Lake in Kaslo, BC; photo by Andrew Penner

Enjoy the spectacular views and hear the
fascinating history of the “Great Sullivan Mine” on Kimberley’s Underground Mining Railway in
Kimberley. The rail links the downtown with the site of the old Sullivan Mine
surface facilities and recent reclamation activities and continues its route
shuttling riders to the base of the Kimberley Alpine Resort.

Fall into the past, relive the memories and
enjoy the folklore of the island by going through the Chapel House in
Castlegar. The Island park will take you back several thousand years to when
the Lakes Salish people first fished and build their winter pit-house; when
explorer David Thompson sailed down the Columbia River over 200 years ago and
when Alexander Zuckerberg built his unique Russian Orthodox Chapel House.
Alexander Zuckerberg, a great Russian writer, humanitarian and pacifist, came
to Canada to teach Doukhobor children. Shortly afterwards he settle on the
island (later named Zuckerberg Island
Heritage Park) and began building the Chapel House. Zuckerberg was as
unique as his work and is greatly admired to this day by many people.